Song of the Day, January 16: No One Is There by Nico

Today’s song is No One Is There by Nico. The centerpiece of her powerful 1969 album The Marble Index, it distills everything Nico into one potent package.

Over a sparse musical arrangement, Nico chants a solemn dirge of isolation and loneliness. Her distinctive vocals are more compelling than ever, evoking the darkness with every syllable. Despite — or perhaps underscored by — her limited range, her uncanny sense of phrasing and timing make the most of each note. Wasting nothing and leaving plenty of open space for the listener to dwell in, she crafts an almost welcoming chill.

Across from behind my window screen
Demon is dancing down the scene
In a crucial parody
Demon is dancing down the scene
He is calling and throwing
His arms up in the air
And no one is there